Before you get too indignant about the loss of real language and the rise of textspeak and slang, keep in mind that you, too, used slang, much to the chagrin of your elders.
Yes — slang has been around forever. Need some reminders? If you are of a certain age, some or all of these may sound familiar:
* Gas. As in, isn't he a gas?
* Made in the shade. Someone who had it easy or who had it all together had it "made in the shade."
* Peepers. Got a set of beautiful peepers? Sounds a little creepy these days, but "Jeepers creepers, where'd you get those peepers?"
* Square. Man, what an insult! Nobody wanted to be accused of being a square.
* Drip. Similarly, you didn't want to be totally uncool, or a total drip.
* Fuzz. Long before po-po (which isn't current anymore, either), there was the "fuzz," or police.
* Duck butt. A greaser hair cut that was slick and combed in the back to meet in the middle. Great visual, that one.
